no image
Privacy Level: Open (White)

Dominic McElhenney (1862 - 1891)

Dominic McElhenney
Born in Doocharry, County Donegal, Irelandmap
Son of and
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married Nov 1888 in Deer Lodge County, Montana Territory, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , and
Died at age 28 in Montana, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Annemarie Hanlon private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 19 May 2023
This page has been accessed 119 times.

Contents

Biography

Dominic McElhenney was born 24 Oct 1862[1] in Doocharry Bridge,[1][2] County Donegal,[3] Ireland. He was the son of Cornelius "Neil" McElhinney (aka McElheney[2] or McElheny[3]) and his wife Mary O'Donnell.[2][3]

He emigrated to the United States and settled in Montana Territory where he found work as a miner.[1]

In 1888 Dominic lived in Tower,[2] near Philipsburg,[3] Deer Lodge County, Montana Territory.

He married Annie Sweeney[2][3][4] in 1888[2][3] in Deer Lodge County,[2][3] Montana Territory. Dominic and Annie were native Gaelic speakers as they both came from the Gaeltacht in County Donegal: Annie was from the village of Meenaweal,[2] not far from Dominic's native town of Doocharry Bridge.[2]

In 1891 Dominic was working in Marie Mine,[1] a manganese and silver mine about a mile east of Philipsburg, Deer Lodge County, Montana. See location on Google Maps.

Near midnight[5] on 12 Oct 1891[1][5] he was at work at Marie Mine and felt faint while in the bucket travelling up the mine shaft to go to dinner.[5] He let go of the rope and was killed instantly by a 300 foot fall down the mine shaft.[5] His death was front page news the following day in the Anaconda Standard.[5] WARNING: graphic description of injuries. See full transcript below.

An inquest was held the following day[5] and he was buried the day after, on 14 Oct 1891,[6] at Philipsburg Cemetery.[1][6] The Anaconda Standard's brief funeral report noted that the funeral was well-attended.[6] See full transcript below.

While the Anaconda Standard accurately reported that Dominic left a wife and three children,[5] Annie was actually pregnant with their fourth child at the time of Dominic's death. Their youngest would be named Dominic after the father he never knew.

Dominic McElhenney & Annie Sweeney's four children:

  1. Cornelius "Neil" McElhenney,[7] born 07 Oct 1889 in Granite, Granite Co., MT
  2. Hugh McElhenney,[8] born 27 Dec 1890 (twin), died 9 Aug 1896, buried with father (Dominic)
  3. Mary McElhenney[4] born 27 Dec 1890 (twin), died 07 Aug 1914[4]
  4. Dominic McElhenney Jr.


Newspaper Articles

The Anaconda Standard - Tuesday 13 Oct 1891[5]
page 1, column 6
Copyright expired
See image of page here
WARNING - graphic description of injuries.
Note: name wrongly cited as Daniel McEllheney
FRIGHTFULLY MANGLED
Daniel McEllheney Falls Three Hundred Feet in the Marie Shaft
HIS WIFE'S PRESENTIMENT
She Feared that Some Misfortune Would Befall Him - Fell From the Bucket
――――
Special to the Standard
PHILIPSBURG, Oct. 12.―Last night about midnight Dan McEllheney fell out of the bucket and down the Marie company's shaft, a distance of about 300 feet, and was instantly killed, having every bone in his body broken and his face and most of the head torn from the body. When the body was found at the 400-foot station it was simply an unrecognisable mass of flesh and broken bones. McEllheney came to the station about 12 o'clock with his partner for the purpose of going up to supper. He seemed cheerful and spoke pleasantly to the man at the station, and both miners got in the bucket in the usual manner and started up. When within about 100 feet from the surface, McEllheney said "I feel sick and faint," and before his partner could grab him he had lost his hold on the rope and fell headlong down the shaft. The Marie shaft is an incline and most of the present work is being done on the 400-foot level.

McEllheney was a young man about 30 years of age, and very much respected by all who knew him. He leaves a wife and three children. He was working in the Marie shaft against the expressed wish of his wife, who has always had a very strong presentiment that something awful would happen if he continued, and she has lately repeatedly urged him to quit. The unfortunate man was a member of the Miners' union, in good standing, and will probably be buried by that order tomorrow afternoon.

Coroner Ray held an inquest to-day and a verdict was rendered in accordance with the facts as here given and attaching no blame to any person.


The Anaconda Standard - Wednesday 14 Oct 1891[6]
morning edition, page 3, column 2
Copyright expired
See image of page here
Note: name wrongly cited as Daniel McIllheney
THE EARTH RECEIVES ITS OWN.
――――
Funeral of Daniel McIllheney – Engineer J.M. Spencer Dead.

Special to the Standard.
PHILIPSBURG, Oct. 13.―McIllheney, the man who was killed in the Marie company's shaft, was buried to-day at the Philipsburg cemetery. It was a large funeral, many coming from Granite to attend. The heart-broken widow with her little family have the sympathy of the entire community.

... (continues with unrelated death report of J.M. Spencer.)


Research Notes

  • Name: Dominic was evidently illiterate as his records have his name spelled many different ways:
    • Dominick McElheny: on 21 Nov 1888, from marriage license no. 1[3]
    • Dominick McElheney: on 24 Nov 1888, from marriage license no. 2[2]
    • Daniel McEllheney: in 13 Oct 1891 death report in the Anaconda Standard[5]
    • Daniel McIlheney: in 14 Oct 1891 funeral report in the Anaconda Standard[6]


Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Find A Grave: Memorial #29228102 for Dominic McElhenney (1862-1891), Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite County, Montana (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29228102/). Memorial created and maintained by Charla Gray. Accessed 19 May 2023.
    name: Dominic McElhenney
    birth: 24 Oct 1862 in Doochary Bridge, County Donegal, Ireland
    death: 12 Oct 1891 (aged 28)
    burial plot: block 19, lot 31, grave 6
    spouse: Annie (Sweeney) McKenna (1864–1946), married 1888
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Dominick McElheney & Annie Sweeney marriage license #2, 24 Nov 1888, marriage register, Deer Lodge County, Territory of Montana, page 128. Accessed 20 May 2023.
    https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61578/images/48279_555262-00308
    license: no. 128, 24 Nov 1888
    groom: Dominick McElheney
    description: white, age 24, born Doohery Bridge, County Donegal, Ireland, residing at Tower, Deer Lodge, Territory of Montana
    parents: Neil McElheney & Mary O'Donnell
    bride: Annie Sweeney
    description: white, age 24, born Meenaweal, County Donegal, Ireland, residing at Granite, Deer Lodge County
    parents: Hugh Sweeney & Ellen Coyle (correct name)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Dominick McElheny & Annie Sweeney marriage license #1, 21 Nov 1888, marriage register, Deer Lodge County, Territory of Montana, page 123. Accessed 03 Oct 2021.
    https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61578/images/48279_555262-00305
    license: no. 123, 21 Nov 1888
    groom: Dominick McElheny
    description: white, age 24, born in the County of Negal, Ireland, residing at Philipsburg, Deer Lodge County, Territory of Montana
    parents: Neal McElheny and Mary O'Donnell
    bride: Annie Sweeny
    description: white, age 24, born in the County of Negle, Ireland, residing at Granite, Deer Lodge County, Territory of Montana
    parents: Hugh Sweeny and Annie McCool - note: mother actually Ellen/Nellie Coyle
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Mary Barry death certificate, Momtna, Silver Bow County, file no. 18184, registered no. 780. Silver Bow County recorder office. "Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8B2K-9HKY : 20 October 2015), Silver Bow > Death certificates 1913-1915 no 17601-20043 > image 589 of 2469. Accessed 21 May 2023.
    deceased: Mary Barry
    death: 07 Aug 1914 at 12:45 p.m. at 120 Minah Street, Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana
    cause: hemorrhage of stomach (1 day), contributory ulcer of stomach (? months)
    description: female, white, married, age 21 years, 7 months, 9 days, occupation at home
    born: 27 Dec 1892 in Montana
    father: Dominick McElleneney, born Ireland
    mother: Annie Sweeney, born Ireland
    informant: Michael Barry, address Butte, Montana
    medical attendance: 07 Aug 1914 by E.F. Maginn, M.D. of Butte
    burial: 10 Aug 1914 at Catholic Cemetery
    undertaker: Sherman & Reed, address Butte
    filed: 08 Aug 1914
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Daniel McEllheney death reported in the "Anaconda Standard", Tuesday 13 Oct 1891, page 1, column 6, article "Frightfully mangled." Library of Congress "Chronicling America" database with images (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84036012/1891-10-13/ed-1/seq-1/). Accessed 21 May 2023.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Daniel McIllheney funeral reported in the "Anaconda Standard", Wednesday 14 Oct 1891, morning edition, page 3, column 2, article "The Earth Receives Its Own." Library of Congress "Chronicling America" database with images (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84036012/1891-10-14/ed-1/seq-3/). Accessed 21 May 2023.
  7. ↑ Neil McElhenney & Annie Sodja marriage record, Montana, Silver Bow County. Silver Bow County courthouse, Montana. "Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DC79-9JM : 21 May 2019), 004278541 > image 443 of 871. Accessed 23 May 2023.
    license: 03 Oct 1911, no. 3652
    groom: Neil McElhenney
    description: white, age 22, born at Granite, County of Granite, Montana, residing in Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana, not previously married
    parents: Dominic McElhenney & Annie McElhenney, maiden name Sweeney
    bride: Annie Sodja
    description: white, age 19, born Helena, Lewis & Clark County, Montana, residing Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana, not previously married
    parents: John Sodja & Barbara Sodja, maiden name Strolick
    marriage: 04 Oct 1911 in Butte City, Silver Bow County, Montana
    officiated by: Rev. T. Shelan
    witnesses: Charles McDonald & Mrs. T. Knuckey
  8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #29228144 for Hugh McElhenney (1890-1896), Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite County, Montana (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29228144/). Memorial created and maintained by Charla Gray. Accessed 21 May 2023.
    name: Hugh McElhenney
    birth: 27 Dec 1890
    death: 9 Aug 1896 (aged 5)
    burial plot: block 19, lot 31, grave 5
    father: Dominic McElhenney (1862–1891)
    mother: Annie (Sweeney) McKenna (1864–1946)


See also:





Is Dominic your ancestor? Please don't go away!
 star icon Login to collaborate or comment, or
 star icon contact private message the profile manager, or
 star icon ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com

DNA
No known carriers of Dominic's DNA have taken a DNA test. Have you taken a test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.


Comments

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.

Featured Auto Racers: Dominic is 31 degrees from Jack Brabham, 32 degrees from Rudolf Caracciola, 23 degrees from Louis Chevrolet, 22 degrees from Dale Earnhardt, 39 degrees from Juan Manuel Fangio, 29 degrees from Betty Haig, 25 degrees from Arie Luyendyk, 26 degrees from Bruce McLaren, 25 degrees from Wendell Scott, 23 degrees from Kat Teasdale, 23 degrees from Dick Trickle and 32 degrees from Maurice Trintignant on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.

M  >  McElhenney  >  Dominic McElhenney

Categories: Migrants from County Donegal to Montana | United States, Miners | Mining Accidents | Accidental Falls | Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Montana